Matter of Welfare of Key

The Benton County Superior Court declared 7-year-old Kirsten Key to be a dependent child within the meaning of RCW 13.34. Her mother appeals. She asserts that, absent a finding of parental unfitness, the dependency order violates her constitutional right to due process of law. We affirm the trial court, but find that most of the mother's concerns are met by our interpretation of the relevant statutes. Specifically, we hold that if the Department of Social and Health Services desires to move Kirsten against her mother's wishes, the Department must prove by clear, cogent and convincing evidence…